Vice President of Research & DevelopmentRole Overview We are seeking a Vice President of R&D to lead, scale, and operationalize our scientific research organization. This is a pivotal executive role responsible for executing our R&D strategy and bridging the gap between long-term scientific innovation and near-term commercial reality.
Reporting to the CEO and partnering closely with Product & Manufacturing leadership, you will build a high-performing scientific team and ensure that our breakthroughs in cryogenic technologies transition effectively into engineered, manufacturable, and commercially viable solutions.
Key Responsibilities Scientific Strategy & Roadmap Alignment - Drive the Vision: Execute Maybell Quantum's R&D vision and scientific roadmap, ensuring strict alignment with executive leadership and product strategy.
- Milestone-Driven Research: Execute the R&D roadmap with strict alignment to product launch windows. Ensure research activities are gated by clear, time-bound objectives.
- Scope Discipline: Manage scope creep aggressively. Balance the desire for scientific perfection with the necessity of commercial timing and product requirements.
- Technical Stewardship: Support R&D Leads in executing foundational research, but strictly within the context of business priorities and delivery dates.
Rigorous Project Execution & Delivery - Timeline Accountability: Own the R&D master schedule. You are ultimately responsible for ensuring research projects hit their deadlines and critical path milestones.
- Predictable Output: Transformation of "science projects" into managed engineering initiatives. You will implement frameworks that bring predictability to inherently uncertain deep-tech research.
- Risk & Blocker Management: Proactively identify technical and schedule risks early. decisive action to remove blockers and re-allocate resources to keep projects on track.
Organizational Leadership & Culture - Team Building: Build, mentor, and manage a growing team of world-class scientists and researchers.
- Performance Management: Establish clear goals, OKRs, and career development paths for scientific staff.
- Culture of Excellence: Foster a rigorous, collaborative, and inclusive research culture that maintains high scientific standards while embracing startup agility.
Research Funding & External Engagement - Secure Resources: Identify and pursue major non-dilutive funding opportunities, including government grants (e.g., DARPA, DOE), strategic partnerships, and collaborative research programs.
- Proposal Leadership: Coordinate proposal development and technical contributions, acting as the primary scientific liaison for external partners and grant agencies.
Operational Excellence - Resource Management: Own the R&D planning process, including), resource allocation, and lab infrastructure planning.
- Process Optimization: Establish efficient processes for research prioritization, peer review, and decision-making to maximize ROI on research spend.
Qualifications - Education: PhD in Physics, Applied Physics, Cryogenic Engineering, or a closely related field.
- Experience: 10+ years of experience in deep-tech environments, with a preference for hardware or cryogenic systems.
- Leadership: 7+ years of people leadership experience, specifically managing scientists or multidisciplinary research teams.
- Financial Acumen: Proven track record of managing R&D budgets exceeding $5M.
- Translation Skills: Demonstrated ability to translate complex scientific research into real-world, scalable commercial applications.
- Funding Success: Experience securing and managing government grants or external research contracts is highly desirable.
- Startup DNA: Thrive in high-growth, fast-paced environments where ambiguity is common and adaptability is required.
What We Offer - Competitive Compensation:
- Base salary $180,000-$230,000
- Additional compensation through performance bonuses and equity options in one of the country's most promising startups.
- Comprehensive Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) matching, flexible PTO policy, and more
- Growth Trajectory: Significant opportunities for professional development and career advancement in a rapidly scaling organization
- Impact: Direct influence on the success of a company developing revolutionary technology
- Exceptional Team: Collaboration with world-class scientists, engineers, and business leaders who are defining a new industry
Maybell Quantum is solving incredibly challenging problems at the cutting edge of physics and engineering. Don't meet every single requirement? We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workforce, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly, we still encourage you to apply.
